Late goals have been a recent feature of Bristol Rovers' battle to beat the drop - tonight at Sixfields, however, it was John Ward's side that were on the wrong-end of a last-gasp strike to suffer a cruel defeat.

After standing up manfully to a persistent aerial bombardment for the majority of the game, Rovers were finally undone two minutes from time when Northampton midfielder Ben Harding bundled the ball over the line two minutes from time following a long throw into the penalty area.

The defeat sees Rovers, who have scored late goals of their own in games against Barnet and Cheltenham since the start of the month, slip back to within three points of the relegation zone on what was a bad day for Ward, who confirmed that he would be without midfielder Seanan Clucas after he suffered a season-ending knee injury at Morecambe on Saturday.

Striker Ryan Brunt was also unavailable for a game that won't live long in anyone's memory – although Ward will be disappointed that his side did not leave with at least a point after enjoying more possession and watch his side defend their penalty area solidly for 88 minutes.

Oliver Norburn slotted into central midfield as a replacement for Clucas, while the Rovers boss also kept faith with Eliot Richards and Tom Hitchcock in the absence of Brunt.

It was a defender, however, that caused Northampton goalkeeper Lee Nicholls a problem in the early exchanges; Michael Smith almost catching the Sixfields stopper out with a cross-come-shot.

Northampton, though, looked dangerous with the ball at their feet, particularly down the flanks, although all they had to show for their early efforts was a Clive Platt header that sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.

A similar effort went the same way off the head of Adebayo Akinfenwa soon after, although Rovers were a little at sixes and sevens any time Northampton wideman Jake Robinson delivered a potent corner kick tantalisingly under Steve Mildenhall's crossbar.

Rovers, meanwhile, did manage to make the occasional break out with one in the 23rd minute ending in a good save by Nicholls after Joe Anyinsah had collected the ball off Tom Hitchcock on the edge of the penalty area and aimed a powerful drive goal-ward from the edge of the penalty area.

Northampton's rudimentary approach was perhaps best encapsulated by the long throws of defender Tozer, but while the missile-like deliveries served to cause confusion in an around the six-yard box, Rovers continued to defend manfully.

For all the possession enjoyed by Boothroyd's side, however, Rovers created the more threatening chances with Norburn the next to sting Nicholls' hands with low drive on another foray into Northampton territory before the end of the first-half.

Rovers received a boost at the start of the second-half when 17-goal striker Akinfenwa failed to reappear due to an injury and Ward's men started brightly.

Richards forced Nicholls into yet another save with a left-footed effort from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute.

Northampton, meanwhile, continued their aerial assault only for Mildenhall to persistently catch the ball or punch it to safety. Central defenders Tom Parkes and Mark McChrystal were also found in the right place at the right time when called on to get their heads in the way of another punt into the penalty area.

McChrystal then got his body in the way of a Jake Robinson shot before Danny Woodards did the same to charge down an effort from Ben Harding.

Ellis Harrison was introduced for Tom Hitchcock for the final quarter-of-an-hour – a switch that saw Ward move Joe Anyinsah up front on his own in a bid to pack the middle of the park to secure a point. It almost worked.

Comments

Last night's result was a blow. In all likelihood we could see ourselves 3 or 4 from bottom after the weekend and right back in danger unless we pull off an unlikely win on Saturday. Tough few weeks for us coming up.